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Clinical Trials/CTRI/2025/08/092300
CTRI/2025/08/092300
Not yet recruiting
Phase 2/3

Accelerated deep intermittent theta-burst stimulation of medial prefrontal/anterior cingulate cortex for medication-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A multi-site randomised sham-controlled trial

Shyam Sundar Arumugham2 sites in 1 country108 target enrollmentStarted: September 15, 2025Last updated:

Overview

Phase
Phase 2/3
Status
Not yet recruiting
Sponsor
Shyam Sundar Arumugham
Enrollment
108
Locations
2
Primary Endpoint
Change in Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) severity score from baseline

Overview

Brief Summary

This multi-site, randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and neurobiological effects of accelerated deep intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) targeting the medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices in individuals with medication-resistant OCD. The study will enrol 72 patients with OCD and 36 healthy volunteers across two Indian centres: NIMHANS, Bengaluru and CIP, Ranchi. Patients will be randomised to receive either active or sham iTBS over five consecutive days (six sessions per day; total 30 sessions). The primary outcome is the change in Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) score one week after completion of phase-1 treatment. Secondary outcomes include changes in Clinical Global Impressions Severity (CGI-S), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), cognitive task performance, cortical excitability and connectivity (EEG), and resting-state functional connectivity (fMRI). Healthy controls will undergo the same stimulation protocol to characterise normative neurophysiological changes and support identification of biomarkers associated with treatment response.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Masking
Participant, Investigator, Outcome Assessor and Date-entry Operator Blinded

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
15.00 Year(s) to 60.00 Year(s) (—)
Sex
All

Inclusion Criteria

  • Primary diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder as per DSM-5 criteria, confirmed using the Diagnostic Interview for Anxiety, Mood, and OCD and Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders (DIAMOND).
  • Inadequate response to at least one adequate trial of serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
  • On stable psychotropic medications for a minimum of 8 weeks.
  • Not undergoing cognitive behavioural therapy at the time of recruitment.
  • Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale score of 16 or higher.
  • Clinical Global Impressions Severity score of 4 or higher.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Presence of comorbid psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, or active substance use disorder (except nicotine or caffeine dependence).
  • Active suicidality.
  • History suggesting intellectual disability.
  • Contraindications to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or magnetic resonance imaging.
  • Presence of unstable medical conditions or severe neurological disorders requiring immediate medical attention.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) severity score from baseline

Time Frame: 1 week after intervention

Secondary Outcomes

  • Change in resting-state functional connectivity in anterior cingulate and prefrontal regions,(Change in ACC functional connectivity, MRS glutamate levels and amplitude of ERN)
  • HAM-A and HAM-D scores(1 week after end of treatment)
  • Change in YBOCS, HAM-A and HAM-D score at the end of phase 2 and Phase 3(6 weeks and 12-18 weeks after the end of treatment)

Investigators

Sponsor
Shyam Sundar Arumugham
Sponsor Class
Other [self]
Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Shyam Sundar Arumugham

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences

Study Sites (2)

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